Sooty Exhaust - Cayman R

[colski1961]

just curious if this is normal?
Nipped out for a quick drive at lunchtime and haven't cleaned the car for a couple of weeks, normally washed after every other trip. When parking up noticed that my tail pipes were very sooty and haven't seen them like this before.
Only ever use V Power (Shell) and generally do 100-150 miles of 'spirited' driving on a Sunday morning when the roads are quiet and I have the time.
Car is now almost 4 years old (Sept 2011) but only done 9K miles - albeit all of them have been brisk.
Normal or something to worry about? Soot wiped off easy enough but there seems to be quite a lot and I expected the pipes to remain pretty clean with using V Power.
Everything else runs fine on the car - MPG generally in the 18-19 mpg area.

 

[Motorhead]

Perfectly normal I think Colin. My CS has the chrome exhaust tips [like your CR?] and I get a light sooting after a reasonably long blast. Perhaps the crimped end of the tips sets up vortices which promote soot depositing. I'm also using V-Power but I doubt that the type of fuel used has much, if any, effect. Jeff

 

[PaulJ]

My current GTS and my previous Porsches (including a CR) were the same sooty tailpipes too. They too were all run on Shell V-power - must be normal I guess. I did think about it though as I remember from my earlier motoring days that this would have been the sign of an over rich mixture and some overdue tinkering with the carbs. (Ask your dad if necessary!).

 

[colski1961]

asking my Dad isn't an option but I do remember configuring carbs in my younger days Reason I asked was that I hadn't noticed before and my CR is the longest I've kept a car in a long time, usually 2 years from new and then gone.......CR just too good to let go at the moment and can't find anything else that 'floats my boat' in the same way. Thanks for the responses, seems like it's normal and not car running rich (which was my fear as it's a long round trip to the nearest OPC!). One other question while I have your attention is that the exhaust tips are again showing signs of rust, 2nd set - originals replaced under warranty 18 months ago - anyone else found these stainless steel/chromed tips don't last? Or should I raise with the OPC again? Cheers, Colin

 

[Motorhead]

You were lucky to get your tailpipe replaced Colin. My chrome is looking a bit flaky in some of the dimples but my PC was rather dismissive about it when I mentioned it at the first service before the manufacturer's warranty expired. Maybe I should raise it again but I doubt that it's covered by the extended warranty. Incidentally, the chrome tailpipes on my Golf GTi get blackened pretty quickly. Again, the ends are rolled in and I reckon that the exhaust flow is obstructed, leading to soot particles being deposited on the tips. As said, it's usually an indication of an over-rich mixture so perhaps you can find some sofware which taps into the OBD2 socket to monitor the air/fuel ratio to see if you're running rich. Jeff

 

[colski1961]

thanks for the feedback (all) and the general consensus that it's normal (phew) car all clean and sparkling again so no soot right now. Also used elbow grease and attention to get the chrome shined up Although might try the recommended Autosol Polish (just ordered some). Cheers, Colin

 

[RHT45]

Yes, Autosol is the business and I was introduced to it in the Army more years ago than I care to remember. The Army likes things shiny! [][] Colin, sounds like time you changed the car, and that colour/gearbox combo is perfect , so I want to be first in the queue.

 

[colski1961]

[] yes, 4 years is a long time for me to keep a car BUT 2 big issues in replacement.... 1 - can't find anything that fits me as well - I have the carbon buckets and they're the best seats I've ever had in a car 2 - after years of resistance and slating auto boxes, the PDK set-up in the CR is superb (Had an R8 V8 before with R-Tronic, awful box!) 3 - missed out on placing an order on the GT4 (my own mistake, the OPC had reserved a slot for me and I turned him down, idiot!) So don't know what I'd move on to I'm not a 911 fan (he said quietly []) having tried a few, including the latest 991 C4S, I just don't like the feel of them, for me the Cayman is a better car (sorry 911 lovers). Test drove a Jag F Type and lots of noise and good looks but not really have the finesse. Maybe if a GT4 + PDK comes along that'll be the one for me and my CR will be up for sale, but for now, I'm more than likely staying with it. .....unless someone makes me a silly offer []